Improvement in reed-organ stop-actions



W. D. PARKER.

REED-ORGAN STOP-ACTIONS.

Patented Jan. 23, 1877'.

Inwizzor.

min 868.

N.FETERS. PNOTO-LITHQGRAP UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrron.

WILLIAM D. PARKER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HISRIGHT TO ALONZO O. EMMON S, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REED-ORGAN STOP-ACTIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,610, dated January23,1877; application liled October 11, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM D. PARKER, of Worcester, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Stop-Action for Reed-Organs; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to-theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents avertical transverse section through the operative mechanism of areed-organ, showing in full lines the-mutes or stops closed, and indotted lines the front mute opened, in order to illustrate theconstruction and operation of my improved stopaction for reed-organs.Fig. 2 represents a similar view of myimproved stop-action, takenimmediately at the side of the stop-head spindle which operates the rearmute or stop.

My improvement relates solely to a new and improved mode of operatingthe action-pitman through the stop-head spindle.

Heretofore the under side of the stop-head spindle has been providedwith a triangularlyshaped piece of metal or wood, so secured to it astoform an inclined plane, which, resting on a correspondingly-shapedblock secured to the upper side of the actuating hinged lever that movesthe action-pitman as the stophead spindle is drawn out, forces theactuating-lever down, thereby depressing the actionpitman, and thusopening the mute or stop.

This method of opening the stop, because of the friction created by thepassage of the inclined plane of the stop-head spindle over the face ofthe inclined block of the actuatinglever, creates a grating andunpleasant jarring noise, which it is very desirable to avoid in amusical instrument.

My improvement is intended to remedy this trouble; and consists, first,in operating the actuating-lever through the stop-head spindle by meansofa connecting-rod, the upper end of which is connected by a pivot-pinto the stop-head spindle, and the lower in the same manner to the freeend of the actuating-lever;

and, secondly, in combining with the under side of the actuating-lever abent spring, in such manner as that, while its free end bears constantlyon the upper end of the action-pitman, its tendency will be to raise theactuating-lever upward, and thus, when the stop is closed, to takeup allthe slack in the action, thereby preventing all rattling or jarring;and, thirdly, in the combination'of a cushion with the spring andactuating-lever at its free end, it being arranged between the latterand the spring.

This cushion may be made of cloth, soft leather, rubber, or othersuitable material, and is used to soften the contact and deaden thenoise when the actuating-lever is suddenly depressed upon the spring tomove the action-pitman.

In the drawings, the sounding-board a, tube-board I), routes or stops 0c, valve-pins or pitmen d, key-frame 0, white keys f, black keys g,action-pitman h, name board or brace 01, hinged or actuating lever j,stop-head spindle k, and the arm 6, on which the name-board spindle andactuating-lever of the action-pitman are made to swing clear fromthekey-board and action-pitman, are all represented as being of theusual construction, and hence, as they form no part of my presentimprovement, require no special description, further than what may benecessary to show their connec tion with my improved stop-action, andwhich I will now proceed to describe.

In constructing my stop-action 1 leave the stop-head spindle 7e and theactuating leverj entirely unprovided with the triangular orinclined-plane blocks before referred to, and substitute therefor a linkor connecting-lever, m, the upper end of which is pivoted to thestop-head spindle k, and the lower end to the actuating-leverj at ornear its free end. Here it is to be noted that the upper end of thelinklever m is pivoted to the stop-head spindle is at a point somedistance in the rear of its connection with the actuating-leverj.

By being thus connected, and the stophead spindle being only capable ofa longitudinal horizontal motion, and not of a free vertical motion, itwill be apparent that the stop-head spindle will, when drawn outward,

force the free end of the hinged actuating-lever downward, and in sodoing depress the action-pitinan h, which, in turn, acting on thepivoted levers n and n causes the latter to operate the angle-lever 0,thereby opening the front mute or stop 0, as shown in Fig. 1, or, as thecase may be, through the other stophead spindle 70, causing the lever nand anglearm 0 to open the rear mute or stop 0, as shown in Fig. 2,thereby insuring a positive motion to each of the'action-pitmen wheneverdesired, and that Without any special tendency to create eithera'jarring, grating, or other disagreeable noise.

To overcome any tendency there may be I secure one end of a spring, 0",to the under side ofthe actuating-lever j, the free end of which is madeto bear on the upper end of the action-pitman h. This spring is slightlybent, and is so arranged as to raise the free end of the actnatingleverj from off the end of pitman h, when no pressure is exerted upon itthrough the stop head spindle and connecting-lever m. The spring 4" thusarranged takes up all the slack in the action, and effectually preventsall rattling or jarring noises consequent upon the opening or closing ofthestops.

To this end I further apply a cushion, s, between the free ends of theactuating-leverj and the spring 1'. This cushion may either be securedto the lever or the spring; but I prefer the former, and it may be madeof any suitable. material, such as cloth, rubber, soft connecting-leverm with the stop-head spindle k and the hinged or pivoted actuating-leverof the action-pitman, substantially as and for the purpose set fort s 2.The combination, in a'reed-organ, of the spring 7' with theaction-pitman h and its actuating-lever j, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. The combination of the lever m, stophead spindle k, andactuating-leverj with the action-pitman hof a reed-organ,when arrangedand operated in the manner substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

' 4. The combination of the stop-head spindle 7c, lever m,actuating-lever and spring 7' with the action-pitman h of a reed-organ,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the cushion s with the actuating-lever j andspring 1', subs-tantially es and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM D. PARKER. Witnesses:

DAVID MANNING, GUSTAVUS W. INGALLS.

